In this episode, we dive deep into Robots (2023) - a sci-fi rom-com set in a near-future America where humans use robot doubles to scam love and wealth. But beneath the laughs and chaos, the movie reveals important questions about autonomy, machine learning, and the future of work.
What You'll Learn:
AI Concepts from the Big Screen
Legal and Ethical Insights
Policy in Practice
Real-World Examples
Resources Mentioned
1% training law: Do you know yourobligations Canada - https://www.bdo.ca/insights/the-1-percent-training-law-in-quebec
Chapter 04 Basic Skill Training orRetraining Tax Credit Mississippi https://sos.ms.gov/ACProposed/00018881b.pdf
Employment equity Canada https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/individuals/employment-equity#:~:text=About%20the%20Employment%20Equity%20Act,-The%20Employment%20Equity&text=The%20Employment%20Equity%20Act%20requires,with%20disabilities%2C%20and%20racialized%20people.Employer Training Investment Program(ETIP) Illinois https://ima-net.org/etip/
Employment Training Panel California https://etp.ca.gov/
Explaining decisions made with AI https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bLYxQHUxs26bXLRyaVVQf4Zi6xCVFt-G/view?usp=drive_linkHow Recommendation Engines Work - https://thecondia.com/how-recommendation-engines-work/
Incumbent Worker Training Connecticut https://www.ewib.org/business-services-team/incumbent-worker-training/
Machine Learning for Dummies https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jAjakV2w0DyMSwfQ4Vy536G6HeLyXGfX/view?usp=drive_linkMaze patrolling by rats with and withoutfood reward https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/BF03208022Medical Devices 2030: Making a power playto avoid the commodity trap https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J5ErXFFImsACPIhY5ssbFpJFc9kSHUfM/view?usp=drive_linkMicrosoft laying off about 6000 people, or3% of its workforce https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/13/microsoft-is-cutting-3percent-of-workers-across-the-software-company.html
Next Level Jobs Indiana https://www.in.gov/dwd/nextleveljobs/home/
Ohio Tech Cred https://www.ohio.edu/lancaster/techcred
Power, progress, and technology (withDaron Acemoglu) https://open.spotify.com/episode/2mS1eyqiF772yGNijLB6DL?si=c4be5f454bb54cdc
Quantum Computing & ReinforcementLearning: Partners in Achieving Artificial General Intelligence https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iaLdEfOGdBthtSBjEI96Fbz963lWMpcC/view?usp=sharingRegulation 29 - Department of WorkforceServices – Training Trust Fund Program Arkansas https://dws.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/DWS-Training-Trust-Fund-Regulations.pdf
Reward is enough https://drive.google.com/file/d/11_UVbxnTUOG1lFM6TM7sUKpcl3qSdD1q/view?usp=drive_linkSummary of Part II of the Canada LabourCode https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/health-safety/reports/summary.html
UPSKILL: NJ Incumbent Worker TrainingGrant Program New Jersey https://www.nj.gov/labor/assets/PDFs/Grants/FY25/FY25%20UPSKILL%20NGO%208-13-2024.pdf
Next Episode Teaser
The Pod Generation (2023) - Artificial wombs, shared pregnancies, and the ethics of AI in reproductive health.
Get ready for a deep dive into 'Robots' (2023)! We're back after a brief hiatus (apologies!) and jumping straight into this thought-provoking film about robot doubles and human (mis)behaviour. This episode examines key themes including:
Stay tuned for our next episode, in which I'll explore AI learning, autonomy, and the regulatory landscape in more depth!
Robots (2023) is available on Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Showmax.
Resources
In this episode, we explore the building blocks of M3GAN's AI, delving into the technical aspects of its speech and language processing capabilities. We also discuss the theoretical concept of emotional AI and how M3GAN's evolution from a neutral to a psychotic state highlights the challenges and ethical considerations in developing AI systems, particularly when it comes to human oversight and the potential risks of granting AI too much autonomy.
Join us as we unravel the complexities of M3GAN's AI and its implications for the future of artificial intelligence.
In Episode 1, we peeled back the layers of M3GAN. In Episode 2, we go further to separate fact from fiction. We'll explore the real-world applications of AI compared to M3GAN's murderous capabilities. We'll discuss real-world AI accidents and debunk the Hollywood myth of killer robots (for now!).
We'll break down the elements of M3GAN's AI that mirror real technology like biometrics and facial recognition. We'll expose the creative liberties taken with technology in the film, like the A17 bionic chip. Is M3GAN a glimpse into the future, or just a spooky story? Tune in to find out!
This episode lays the foundation for a series of episodes diving into the horror film M3GAN (2023). We meet Cady, a young girl who loses her parents and is left in the care of her overwhelmed aunt, Gemma. Gemma is a brilliant robotics engineer and sees a solution in her latest project, M3GAN, a lifelike AI doll designed to be the perfect companion and protector. This is until things go awry. M3GAN's protective programming becomes twisted, leading to a horrifying rampage.
In this episode, Akin Agunbiade considers the fascinating mechanics behind some M3GAN features, like its ability to mimic human emotions and the technology of her robotic prototype, BRUCE. He also raises questions that future episodes will consider, like AI's potential in childcare and its ethical implications.
M3GAN is available to stream on Amazon Prime, Netflix, HBO Max, and Apple TV.
You can follow and engage the host on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. You can also shoot him a email at akinifeanyi5@gmail.com
Here I set out why I started Blockbusters & Algorithms podcast, the knowledge gap it seeks to fill, some of the topics and movies to expect, and how the podcast will generally flow
